Making Sense Press™Making sense of life, one page at a time.

About the Press

About Making Sense Press

Making Sense Press was created to give authors another path to professional publishing — one built around transparency, flexibility, author control, and high standards.

We publish fiction and nonfiction across a wide range of genres. Every submission is reviewed individually, with attention to professionalism, originality, presentation, and whether the book is appropriate for the Making Sense Press imprint.

Lisa Tarves, Founder of Making Sense Press

Lisa Tarves — Founder & Publisher, Making Sense Press

Meet the Founder

Lisa Tarves

Founder, Publisher & Author

Founder & Publisher — Making Sense Press

Lisa Tarves entered the publishing world as an author in 2011. She later became co-owner of a publishing company, where she worked directly with authors and manuscripts and was involved in the publishing process from the publisher side — not as an observer, but as someone doing the work. Her publishing experience has included manuscript editing, author guidance, coordinating with book formatters, cover designers, and other publishing professionals, co-writing with authors, contributing forewords, and helping numerous authors bring books through the publishing process from beginning to end.

"I started Making Sense Press because I believe books have the power to change lives — and I wanted to be part of making that happen."

— Lisa Tarves

Because Lisa has published her own books, she understands the publishing experience from both sides of the table. She knows what it feels like to hand a manuscript to someone else and trust them with it. That perspective shapes the way Making Sense Press works with authors.

Beyond publishing, Lisa brings decades of entrepreneurial experience. She has founded, owned, and operated multiple businesses across different industries and has extensive experience in sales, marketing, customer relationships, and business development. That combination — publishing, authorship, entrepreneurship, and marketing — directly influences the Making Sense Press philosophy: authors should have access to professional standards and experienced guidance without being forced to purchase expensive production services they do not need.

Lisa believes an author's voice should remain the author's own. Making Sense Press can guide authors and help them navigate publishing decisions without taking over the individual voice that makes their work theirs. The goal is never to reshape a book into something it wasn't meant to be — it's to help the author publish the book they actually wrote.

Working Directly with Authors

How Lisa Works with Authors

In addition to her role as Founder and Publisher of Making Sense Press, Lisa Tarves works directly with authors who need guidance during the writing, publishing, or creative process. Her approach is practical and personal — she works with each author based on what is actually getting in the way, whether the challenge is creative, practical, technical, emotional, or publishing-related. Authors may work with Lisa for support such as:

  • Creative direction and writer's block
  • Figuring out where a fiction story should go next
  • Plot and character development conversations
  • Organizing nonfiction ideas and determining what should come next
  • Book development and publishing guidance
  • Publishing decision-making
  • Book marketing and launch strategy
  • Practical or technical obstacles interfering with the writing process
  • Creative, confidence, or emotional roadblocks that are preventing an author from moving forward

Lisa brings a broad professional background to this work. In addition to her experience as an author and publisher, she has previous publishing-business experience, many years of professional marketing experience, and extensive experience in counseling, coaching, NLP, hypnotherapy, media, and working with people through emotional and practical roadblocks.

This range of experience means she can meet authors where they are — whether the obstacle is on the page, in the process, or somewhere deeper. These consultations are not therapy, but they are grounded in a genuine understanding of what it takes to move forward creatively and practically.

Approved Making Sense Press authors can learn about available author add-ons and private sessions — including the Creative Breakthrough Session with Lisa — on the Publishing Package Add-Ons page.

What We Look For

Making Sense Press considers fiction and nonfiction across a wide range of genres. We review each submission individually and look for books that are original, professionally prepared, and appropriate for publication under the Making Sense Press imprint. Acceptance is based on the work itself and our publishing standards.

A Personal Relationship

Publishing Is Personal

Behind every manuscript is a person who cared enough about an idea or a story to put it on the page.

We want our publishing relationships to reflect that.

Making Sense Press is being built around personal communication, transparency, high standards, and genuine respect for authors and their work. Authors should understand what they're paying for, what they're responsible for, what we provide, and who they can turn to when they have questions.

We intend to grow without losing the human relationships at the heart of the press.

Making Sense Press is not a traditional publisher, self-publishing platform, or full-service hybrid publisher. We offer a selective independent publishing model with optional levels of author guidance and support.

If you are an author looking for publishing support, learn how we work with authors or explore our publishing packages.

"The best books don't just tell stories — they stay with you."